MONTMORENCY COUNTY - A 22-year-old Cheboygan woman, Megan Marie MacLeod, was arrested late Monday evening and charged with breaking and entering in connection with a break-in at a Hillman drugstore around 3:30 a.m. Monday, in which a large quantity of narcotics had allegedly been stolen.

MacLeod had been out on bond in Otsego County following her arrest Aug. 28, where she had allegedly broken into Nelson's Drug Store in Gaylord. The Cheboygan woman is currently being held on a $30,000 cash bond in the Montmorency County Jail on a felony breaking and entering charge into the Good Neighbor Pharmacy in Hillman on Monday.

MacLeod was arrested at her Benton Township residence in Cheboygan County around 11 p.m. Monday, following a joint

investigation by the Gaylord City Police, Cheboygan City Police Department, Straits Area Narcotics Enforcement (SANE), and the Michigan State Police (MSP) from the Gaylord and Cheboygan posts.

Authorities are currently investigating several other individuals who may also be involved in the break-in and report more arrests are pending. Reports indicate Oxycontin, a synthetic morphine, Darvocet and Vicodin, all legally prescribed as pain medications, were taken from the Hillman store.

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MacLeod was arrested at her Benton Township residence in Cheboygan County around 11 p.m. Monday, following a joint investigation by the Gaylord City Police, Cheboygan City Police Department, Straits Area Narcotics Enforcement (SANE), and the Michigan State Police (MSP) from the Gaylord and Cheboygan posts.

The investigation reportedly led investigators to several suspects who live in Cheboygan County and the arrest of MacLeod at her home.

Gaylord City Police Det. Matt Kinsinger reported it appeared nothing had been taken from the Aug. 28 break-in at Nelson's Drug Store but an Aug. 20 break-in at the same business resulted in Oxycontin and other narcotics being taken. Kinsinger said the Aug. 20 break-in is still under investigation and at this time no arrests have been made.

Owner of Nelson's, Doug Fopma, said it seems that the illegal use of Oxycontin is growing and tighter security measures are in order. "I'm sure the use of the drug is a growing problem around here. It's also a very powerful drug and people need to be aware of that."

Det. Sgt. Kevin Day, with the Gaylord MSP post said investigators have recovered a large amount of the drugs which were taken from the Hillman break-in, estimating 1,800 units of Oxycontin had been recovered.

According to Det. Lt. Ken Mills with SANE, the drug has been selling on the street for as much as $75 per 80 mg. "It depends on the area. Cheboygan and Emmet counties are probably the busiest in northern Michigan as far as it being a problem and so the price is going to be higher there," Mills said.

According to Mills, the use of Oxycontin in Otsego County is close to that of Cheboygan and Emmet. "The use here has been slowly growing but we are seeing more and more of it," added Mills. "People think because it's a prescription drug it's safe. But it's very addictive and we have been seeing a big increase in Oxycontin overdoses the last couple of years."

The number of break-ins at drugstores has also been on the rise according to Mills, saying drugstores in Harbor Springs and Cheboygan, as well as Nelson's and the Hillman store have been the target of people looking for Oxycontin and other synthetic opiates.

"We continue to have a big problem with Oxycontin. It seems to be the drug of choice right now," said Day. "There have been several overdoses in the past year resulting in death in northern Michigan, including Gaylord."